If it’s anything like the portrayal of the timeless singer and ageless beauty, Tina Turner (as seen in this scene):

…then personifying her very own timeless beauty and being made over in the pages of Violet Grey magazine can certainly leave one to believe that the hands of time can indeed be turned back.

Angela Bassett, 55 (looking just shy of 35) recently made her directorial debut and wrapped on the greatly anticipated Lifetime biopic Whitney and will soon be walking the red carpet.

In the pages of the Violet Grey, via a black and white photo spread, the Primetime Emmy nominated actress graced the pages in a scanti-classy fashion shoot by photographer Robin Black—in it, she shares her creative process, beauty secrets, the glam-squad preparation, and all it takes to make Angela over for the red carpet and the flashing lights, beautiful, and healthy life.

On morphing into characters like the ones she’s played like: Rosa Parks, and Tina Turner:

“For me, it’s vitally important. Once you see that come to life you can see the character slowly emerge. It allows you to go deeper, to discover her perspective and her idiosyncrasies. I look in the mirror to see how she moves, how she feels, how she speaks; then the moment happens when it’s like ‘Hello, I’m here.’

On the ritual of getting ready for the red-carpet:

“My first question is always ‘Is my team available?’ I wish I could do all of this, but everyone has their gifts. Then I just sit there with my eyes closed. If I open them it’s only because I’m trying to get a few tips for myself!”

On the preparation process of getting ready for the red-carpet in the days leading up to an award show:

“I try to watch my diet so I can fit into whatever I am wearing. Cut the sugar, the alcohol and the bread, and eat a lot of protein and veggies.”

On getting dressed for a typical night out:

“Well, it only takes me about 10 minutes! I start thinking about it in the car on the way home. Do I want to be flirty? Sensual? Powerful? Then I try to dress for that feeling. My husband [actor Courtney B. Vance] always says ‘Lord, you’ve made something out of nothing, how did you do that?’

On what she sees when she looks in the mirror:

“A passionate woman who knows what she loves and has been blessed to be able to do it…and continue to do it!

On her greatest weakness:

“Love…and sugar.”

When she feels most vulnerable:

“When I’m told I can’t do something. When I’m told I’m not good enough, that I can’t have something, can’t go somewhere, especially because of the color of my skin.”

On coming out on top after fighting for what she wants and having tough-skin in the industry:

“…you stick out your chest and you gather your strength. I was raised by my mother, and she taught me how! You can’t be in this industry if you’re afraid of a little rejection.”

On career advice for aspiring or up and coming actresses:

“It’s the same with everything: You have to study your craft. Actresses make it look easy because that’s the way it should look: effortless. When a great actor does their job they’re leaving a piece of their soul in the room. It takes a little out of you, but that’s okay. Life will take a little out of you, love will take a little out of you. We’re talking about demonstrating the best and worst of the human experience.”

This year, Angela Bassett is nominated for best supporting actress as a voodoo priestess in the movie American Horror Story: Coven.